Anatoli Bugorski
Encyclopedia
Anatoli Petrovich Bugorski (born 1942) is a Russia
n scientist
who was involved in an accident with a particle accelerator
in 1978.
in Protvino
, Bugorski used to work with the largest Soviet particle accelerator
, the U-70 synchrotron
. On July 13, 1978, Bugorski was checking a malfunctioning piece of equipment when an accident occurred due to failed safety mechanisms. Bugorski was leaning over the piece of equipment when he stuck his head in the part through which the proton
beam was running. Reportedly, he saw a flash "brighter than a thousand suns", but did not feel any pain.
) had burned through parts of his face, his bone, and the brain tissue underneath. As it was believed that he had received far in excess of the radiation dose that would normally kill a person, Bugorski was taken to a clinic in Moscow
where the doctors could observe his expected demise. However, Bugorski survived and even completed his Ph.D.
There was virtually no damage to his intellectual capacity, but the fatigue of mental work increased markedly. Bugorski completely lost hearing in the left ear and only a constant, unpleasant internal noise remained. The left half of his face was paralyzed, due to the destruction of nerves. He is able to function perfectly well, except for the fact that he has occasional complex partial seizure
s and rare tonic-clonic seizure
s.
Bugorski continued to work in science, and held the post of Coordinator of physics experiments. Masha Gessen
wrote in Wired that because of the Soviet Union
's policy of maintaining secrecy on nuclear power
-related issues, Bugorski did not speak about the accident for over a decade. He continued going to the Moscow radiation clinic twice a year, for examination, and to meet with other nuclear-accident victims. He "remained a poster boy
for Soviet and Russia
n radiation medicine". In 1996 he applied unsuccessfully for disabled status to receive his free epilepsy
medication. Bugorski showed interest in making himself available for study to Western
researchers, but couldn't afford to leave Protvino
.
Bugorski is married to Vera Nikolaevna, and they have a son, Peter.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
who was involved in an accident with a particle accelerator
Particle accelerator
A particle accelerator is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator. There are two basic types: electrostatic and oscillating field accelerators.In...
in 1978.
Particle accelerator accident
As a researcher at the Institute for High Energy PhysicsInstitute for High Energy Physics
The Institute for High Energy Physics was opened in 1965 in Protvino near Moscow, Russia. The institute is known for the particle accelerator U-70 synchrotron launched in 1967, which was the largest in the world for five years. The first director of the institute 1963—1974) was Anatoli Logunov.-...
in Protvino
Protvino
Protvino is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located about south of Moscow and west of Serpukhov, on the left bank of the Protva River. Population: -History:...
, Bugorski used to work with the largest Soviet particle accelerator
Particle accelerator
A particle accelerator is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator. There are two basic types: electrostatic and oscillating field accelerators.In...
, the U-70 synchrotron
Synchrotron
A synchrotron is a particular type of cyclic particle accelerator in which the magnetic field and the electric field are carefully synchronised with the travelling particle beam. The proton synchrotron was originally conceived by Sir Marcus Oliphant...
. On July 13, 1978, Bugorski was checking a malfunctioning piece of equipment when an accident occurred due to failed safety mechanisms. Bugorski was leaning over the piece of equipment when he stuck his head in the part through which the proton
Proton
The proton is a subatomic particle with the symbol or and a positive electric charge of 1 elementary charge. One or more protons are present in the nucleus of each atom, along with neutrons. The number of protons in each atom is its atomic number....
beam was running. Reportedly, he saw a flash "brighter than a thousand suns", but did not feel any pain.
After the accident
The left half of Bugorski's face swelled up beyond recognition, and over the next several days started peeling off, showing the path that the proton beam (moving near the speed of lightSpeed of light
The speed of light in vacuum, usually denoted by c, is a physical constant important in many areas of physics. Its value is 299,792,458 metres per second, a figure that is exact since the length of the metre is defined from this constant and the international standard for time...
) had burned through parts of his face, his bone, and the brain tissue underneath. As it was believed that he had received far in excess of the radiation dose that would normally kill a person, Bugorski was taken to a clinic in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
where the doctors could observe his expected demise. However, Bugorski survived and even completed his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
There was virtually no damage to his intellectual capacity, but the fatigue of mental work increased markedly. Bugorski completely lost hearing in the left ear and only a constant, unpleasant internal noise remained. The left half of his face was paralyzed, due to the destruction of nerves. He is able to function perfectly well, except for the fact that he has occasional complex partial seizure
Complex partial seizure
A complex partial seizure is an epileptic seizure that is associated with bilateral cerebral hemisphere involvement and causes impairment of awareness or responsiveness, i.e. loss of consciousness.-Presentation:...
s and rare tonic-clonic seizure
Tonic-clonic seizure
Tonic–clonic seizures are a type of generalized seizure that affects the entire brain...
s.
Bugorski continued to work in science, and held the post of Coordinator of physics experiments. Masha Gessen
Masha Gessen
Masha Gessen is an American journalist and author.Born into an Ashkenazi Jewish family in Russia, in 1981 she moved with her family to the United States, returning in 1991 to Moscow where she lives now. Her brother is Keith Gessen....
wrote in Wired that because of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's policy of maintaining secrecy on nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
-related issues, Bugorski did not speak about the accident for over a decade. He continued going to the Moscow radiation clinic twice a year, for examination, and to meet with other nuclear-accident victims. He "remained a poster boy
Poster Boy
Poster Boy is a 2004 gay-themed drama film. It toured the gay and lesbian film festival circuit beginning in 2004 before a limited theatrical release in 2006.- Production :Some scenes were shot on campus at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York....
for Soviet and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n radiation medicine". In 1996 he applied unsuccessfully for disabled status to receive his free epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
medication. Bugorski showed interest in making himself available for study to Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
researchers, but couldn't afford to leave Protvino
Protvino
Protvino is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located about south of Moscow and west of Serpukhov, on the left bank of the Protva River. Population: -History:...
.
Bugorski is married to Vera Nikolaevna, and they have a son, Peter.
External links
Персональный Чернобыль Анатолия Бугорского ("Personal Chernobyl of Anatoly Bugorski")- http://forgetomori.com/2008/science/hit-by-a-particle-accelerator-beam/ (Hit by a Particle Accelerator Beam), with a picture of Bugorski